For some reason, I remember my mother, Rosemary, telling me about growing potatoes and the necessity of a process called ‘laying ’em by’. I guess that was a rural colloquialism for hilling the rows. If you’re not familiar with either term, all either of them means is to pull dirt around the plants protecting the growing tubers from pushing through into the light. When that happens, the outside of the potato exposed to the light turns green.
I don’t know if that damages them or not but I sort of remember the old timers telling me that a person could get sick from eating the green part. I don’t know if that’s true or not but when it happens, I cut off the offending part.

It’s a bit of work to hill potatoes, especially given the low prices for store bought but what the hell. I like doing it anyway.

The old man and the potato row.

In any case, you can rest easy, Rosemary. It’s done.

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About geetwo

I am a 69 year old (in 2009) retired I.T. consultant. My wife, Susie and I travel in an RV 6 to 8 months a year. I write a humor / travel column for several print publications on a weekly basis.